Form cells to monitor domestic aids rights: HC

Dhaka – The High Court on Thursday directed the government to form monitoring cell within six months for establishing the rights of house help and monitoring the allegations of household workers across the country.
It directed the government to form the monitoring cell under the labour ministry, city corporations, district and upazilas of the country in the next six months.The HC bench asked the ministry of labour and employment, city corporations, deputy commissioners, and upazila nirbahi officers of the country to comply with the order by six months.
In a verdict, the HC bench comprising Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Kazi Mohammad Ejarul Haque Akondo came up with the directives.
The HC bench asked the authorities concerned to implement the Domestic Workers’ Protection and Welfare Policy-2015 so that the rights of the house helps could be established in accordance with the policy.
The HC bench came up with the verdict following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) seeking its directive in this regard.
Earlier, on July 1, 2014, the HC issued a rule asking the government to explain why the authorities concerned should not be directed to formulate an act for the establishment of the rights of domestic helps.
After final hearing on the rule, the HC bench yesterday passed the order.
Later, petitioner counsel Advocate Manzill Murshid told reporters that the HC asked to submit a list of domestic helps, take permission from guardians for appointing domestic helps less than 12 years of age, ensure leave for them when needed, ensure medical treatment of the household workers by their employers, pay compensation in case of accidents or take legal steps when tortured.
He said: “Hundreds of thousands of house helps are working in the houses across the country. But there was no appropriate law for establishing their rights”. Following the High Court order, the allegation can be lodged to the monitoring cell concerned if the rights of the house helps are violated, he added.
Advocate Manzill Murshid stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Arabinda Kumar Roy represented the state. – Staff Reporter